Ain't Misbehavin' (musical) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ain't Misbehavin' |
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Original Cast Recording
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| Music | Fats Waller |
| Lyrics | Various Artists |
| Book | Murray Horwitz Richard Maltby Jr. |
| Productions | 1978 New York cabaret 1978 Broadway 1979 West End 1982 US television 1988 Broadway revival 1992 European tour 1995 US National tour 1995 West End revival 2008 US National tour 2019 Off-West End |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Drama Desk Outstanding Musical |
Ain't Misbehavin' is a fun musical show. It's called a musical revue, which means it's a collection of songs and dances rather than a story with a plot. The show was created by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.. It features music by many different artists, all arranged by Luther Henderson. The musical gets its name from a famous song by Fats Waller, called "Ain't Misbehavin'".
This musical celebrates the amazing Black musicians from the 1920s and 1930s. This time was known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was a period when Black artists, writers, and musicians created incredible new works. Many of these artists lived in Manhattan, New York. Nightclubs like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom were popular places. Here, people danced to the new beat called swing. Five performers in the show sing funny and lively songs. These songs show the different feelings of that time. They also share Fats Waller's idea that life is meant for fun and play.
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Productions of Ain't Misbehavin
Ain't Misbehavin' first opened in a small theater. It was at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City. The first show was on February 8, 1978. The original cast included talented performers like Irene Cara, Nell Carter, André De Shields, Armelia McQueen, and Ken Page. Arthur Faria staged the show, and Richard Maltby Jr. directed it. Critics loved the show. One reviewer said it was "filled with bright melodies." Because it was so popular, they decided to make it a bigger production.
Broadway Success
The musical moved to Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on May 9, 1978. It was a huge hit! It later moved to other theaters, the Plymouth Theatre and the Belasco Theatre. The show ran for a very long time, closing on February 21, 1982. It had 1604 performances in total. Richard Maltby Jr. was still the director. Arthur Faria created the musical staging and choreography (the dance moves).
The main cast members from the first show continued on Broadway. Luther Henderson, who arranged Waller's music, played the piano. Other famous actors joined the cast later. These included Debbie Allen and Yvette Freeman. An album of the original cast singing the songs was also released.
London and Television Shows
The show also opened in London's West End on March 22, 1979. It played at Her Majesty's Theatre. Some of the original Broadway cast members, like André DeShields, performed in London too.
In 1982, NBC broadcast the musical on television. This allowed many more people to see the original Broadway cast perform.
Revivals and Tours
Ain't Misbehavin' was so popular that it came back to Broadway. A revival opened on August 15, 1988, at the Ambassador Theatre. The same director, choreographer, and original cast returned. A critic from The New York Times said the show brought back the "dream world" of the 1920s and 30s. He felt it truly showed the "soul" of Fats Waller.
In 1995, a national tour of the show traveled across the United States. It starred the famous singing group The Pointer Sisters. Another tour happened in 2008 to celebrate the show's 30th anniversary. This tour featured popular singers from American Idol, like Frenchie Davis, Trenyce, and Ruben Studdard. A new album of the songs from this tour was also released.
Songs in Ain't Misbehavin
The musical features many classic songs. Here are some of them:
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Awards and Recognition
Ain't Misbehavin' won many important awards.
- In 1978, the original Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical. This is one of the highest honors for a musical.
- It also won the Drama Desk Outstanding Musical award in 1978.
- Several cast members won individual awards for their performances.
- Nell Carter won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She also won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and a Theatre World Award.
- Ken Page won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.
- Armelia McQueen won a Theatre World Award.
- Richard Maltby, Jr. won a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.
- In 1982, the television broadcast of the musical won two Primetime Emmy Awards for "Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program." These went to Nell Carter and André De Shields.
